Computer workstation

ABSTRACT

An adjustable computer workstation comprising a support; a base; a square shaped or rectangular shaped slidable column for vertically positioning the support having a bottom end fastened to the base at its center point and an upper end; a plate for receiving the upper end of the slidable column; and pneumatic piston having a shaft connected to the support through a mounting device at one end and further having an adjustment lever for vertically moving the support in response to the supply or venting of gas to the piston.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application, which claims the benefit of priority of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/586,519, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 2, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to computer workstations in general and more particularly to such workstations that are ergonomically designed to provide adjustability accommodating a range of human dimensions from children to adults, and from females to males.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The science of ergonomics deals with the design of equipment and tools so as to make the equipment and tools easily used by the human user without undue fatigue. The ease of such use as well as the minimizing of strain and fatigue involves designing the tool and equipment to maintain proper orientation with the human user. As is readily apparent, the “human user” is a extremely variable entity and different individuals have varying height, reach, angular movement, and differ in various other dimensions all of which must be considered in the proper design of the equipment that the user will use or interface. This variation of human users has been outlined in tables created by The Human Factors Society Inc. In this report, various anthropometric data are provided which represents the U.S. civilian body dimension for ages 20 to 60 years as determined by J. T. McConville of Yellow Springs, Ohio in his Anthropology Research Project and by K. W. Kennedy in his USAF-AMRL-HEG paper presented in 1985. The later paper is based on military data excerpted from the McConville Research Project of 1978.

[0004] Turning specifically to computer workstations and their monitor and keyboard supports of the type used in classrooms and in offices, the application of ergonomic design consisted, for the most part, of an attempt to provide compatibility of the monitor support with an user of normal or average anthropometric values. Adjustability of the video display screens consisted usually of making the screen tiltable to provide a good orientation of the video screen to the face of the user. The dimensioning of the user's height with respect to the monitor support retaining the screen, for the most part, consisted of a chair being vertically and rotationally adjustable. These adjustments, although providing a certain modicum of compatibility of the user to the workstation, left out certain other key factors dealing with the fatigue of the user such as proper angle angular orientation of the wrist with respect to the keyboard.

[0005] Another problem in user computer interfaces involved the poor or inadequate location of various status displays and actuators that may have to be user actuated in response to conditions viewed on the monitor screen by the user while inputting or monitoring computer data. Users today, have many items on their desks, or near their desks, and users in certain kinds of businesses, such as refineries or petrochemical plants may need to react as quickly as possible to certain adverse conditions during start-up and loading of setpoints and data into critically controlled systems. An alarm condition has to be quickly if not instantaneously acted upon. Prior art location of such actuators was usually somewhat removed from the video monitor and even when in relatively close proximity thereto, provided a poor viewing angle for the user preventing him from simultaneously viewing both the monitor and the actuator board.

[0006] Prior references which are different from the instant invention, but are incorporated herein by reference include Vom Hagen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,285,207, Russell U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,420, Clausen U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,814, Solomon U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,234, Eyre U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,799, Ditonto U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,587, and Charny U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,079. Eyre is directed to a computer workstation having a retractable keyboard, which is adjustable by means of pressurized gas cylinders. Solomon discloses a height adjustable overbed table having a gas spring with a gas cylinder for adjusting a table and caster wheels. Vom Hagen discloses an extensible support column for a table having a rod with a gas filled cylinder. Russell provides a height adjustable workstation with a slide out keyboard support and caster wheels. The means for adjusting the height are extendable supports. Clauses simply notes slide out keyboard trays. Ditonto discloses a workstation with manual height adjustable sections. Charny discloses a stand for a monitor and keyboard wherein the supports for the keyboard and monitor are adjustable manually. Also of note is Rutter, DE 393,382, which does not disclose pneumatic means to raise and lower the computer.

[0007] A computer workstation ergonomically designed to provide a plurality of supports integrally mountable on a support wherein the individual user monitor support provides a variable height keyboard support which can swivel or be extended horizontally or vertically, a monitor support that is adjustable vertically, horizontally and rotationally as well as being tiltable has been needed to provide a comfortable workstation adaptable to users in the range of 5% female to 95% male as defined in the anthropometric tables of The Human Factors Society Inc. In addition, there is a need to have a workstation, which does not require lifting, or pressure to the back of the user. Accordingly, the present invention has been designed which enable pneumatic support of the weight, which is particularly usable, by handicapped employees or children who can not lift the weight of a typical monitor.

[0008] The prior art did not meet the needs of the computer industry for a true ergonomically designed computer workstation particularly for use by children who needed to be able to lift heavy computer monitors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is directed to an adjustable computer workstation comprising:

[0010] a support; a base; a slidable column for vertically positioning said support having a bottom end fastened to said base at its center point and an upper end; a plate for receiving said upper end of said slidable column; a pneumatic piston disposed inside said slidable column connected to said support through said plate at one end; and an adjustment lever for vertically moving said support in response to the supply or venting of gas to the piston. In the most preferred embodiment, the piston is round, and the slidable column and the plate are square and the hole for receiving the piston is also square or rectangular.

[0011] It is contemplated that the piston may pass attach to a base comprising cross braces and cross support members, upon which the wheels may alternatively be attached.

[0012] The workstation is contemplated as being mounted on wheels, which may be locking, but it can be supported on non-moving legs. In an alternative embodiment, a backstop or security rail can be mounted on the support to prevent a monitor from falling over the edge if the workstation is positioned in a place, which is not against a wall.

[0013] These and other aspects of the Applicant's present invention will be more clearly understood from a review of the following description of the Applicant's preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the computer workstation.

[0016]FIG. 2 is an assembled version of the computer workstation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Turning now to the Applicant's description of the preferred embodiment it will be understood that the mentioned embodiment is being disclosed herein not to limit the Applicant's invention thereto but to provide a description of one way of utilizing the Applicant's invention.

[0018] With particular reference to FIG. 1 a computer workstation (10) is shown which utilizes a support (12) such as for holding a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse and mousepad.

[0019] The edge surfaces of the support (12) which holds a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse and mousepad are preferably beveled having an upper angled edge 14 and a lower angled edge 16. These beveled edges prevent harming the user. The support (12) is attached to one end of a slidable column 18, which is shown in FIG. 2. Inside the slidable column 18 is a pneumatic piston 20 (shown in FIG. 1). The slidable column is preferably square or rectangular and is attachable on one end to a base 22. The base 22 may be solid or may have a “star” shape, such as the five arm shape shown in FIG. 1. If the base 22 is solid, such as a square base, it may include and additional cut out to provide a comfortable foot area for the user.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the support 12 has secured, fixedly, such as by 4 screws 32, 34, 36 and 38 to the bottom side 24 a plate 26. Plate 26 has a hole disposed in the center for receiving the piston. The hole and the piston are preferably square in shape so that the base does not swivel or rotate unless the piston sleeve is lowered by the lever 30 which releases gas from the piston.

[0021] Base 22 preferably has receiving means 40 for receiving the base of the piston 20 in a secure and engaging manner. The receiving means is preferably located in the center of the base 22. If the base has a plurality of arms, such as of the star shape shown in FIG. 2, then it is preferred that a plurality of wheels or casters be mounted to that base, preferably, one each at the end of each arm, and each wheel be capable of swiveling and locking. The wheels are shown as wheels 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50. FIG. 2 shows the locking means 52 and 54 located on two of the wheels that can be viewed. The locking means can be disposed on each of the wheels secured to the base 22.

[0022] The workstation (10) provides both functionality as well as engineering design, which incorporate the most demanding ergonomic standards. The workstation provides ease of usability, process information viewing as well as user interface which is efficient and can be easily modified to accommodate different human users including children or handicapped individuals who might be unable to lift computer monitors, due to their weight.

[0023] The support (12) of the workstation (10) can be rotatably mounted or fixedly mounted to a slidable column, which comprises an upper slidable member and a lower slidable shaft member. If rotatably mounted, support (12) can be attached by way of a pivot assembly (not shown) but which could comprise a pin mounted to one unit and a hinge to the other unit to pivotally connect the support in a well known manner.

[0024] The support (12) is vertically alignable using the pressure of the piston means shown in FIG. 1. The piston, which is preferably a pneumatic cylinder, is actuated by a lever (30) which is secured into the plate (26). The pneumatic piston is disposed inside both the upper slidable shaft member and the lower slidable shaft member.

[0025] The pneumatic piston enables a child or handicapped used to operate the support (12) accommodating a range of human users.

[0026] Turning next to the base (22), the lower slidable shaft member extends through the base. In the most preferred embodiments, the slidable shaft members are square, but a rectangular embodiment can be contemplated as within the scope of this invention.

[0027] Lower slidable shaft member (38) may additionally be fastened to a plate such as with conventional screws. Alternatively the lower slidable shaft member slides into a collar capable of holding the piston in place.

[0028] If a plate is used in the base, it is contemplated that the plate is affixed to a base comprising a first cross member support, a second cross member support, a first cross brace and a second cross brace having a H shape. In this base configuration, 4 wheels may be used, and two or more may be locking wheels, and two can be moveable. Alternatively, no locking mechanism need be added to the wheels, depending on the desires of the end user.

[0029] As an optional embodiment, the support (12) may have openings (not shown) for providing electrical wireways connecting power and communications wiring between the support (12) and adjoining supports of (10) (not shown) or other equipment (not shown).

[0030] Certain additions and modifications will occur to people skilled in this art area. These additions and modifications have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are considered to be within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable computer workstation comprising: a support; a base; a slidable column for vertically positioning said support having a bottom end fastened to said base at its center point and an upper end; a plate for receiving said upper end of said slidable column; a pneumatic piston disposed inside said slidable column connected to said support through said plate at one end; and an adjustment lever for vertically moving said support in response to the supply or venting of gas to the piston.
 2. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said piston is round, and said plate is square.
 3. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said slidable column is rectangular.
 4. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said slidable column is square.
 5. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein adjustable workstation is mounted on a base with wheels.
 6. The computer workstation of claim 5 wherein said wheels are locking wheels.
 7. The computer workstation of claim 1 , further comprising a security rail mounted on said support.
 8. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said base has 5 arms, with each arm having one wheel disposed on the end furthest from the slidable column.
 9. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said support is substantially semi-circular in shape.
 10. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said support is in the shape of an ear.
 11. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said support is in the shape of a cresent.
 12. The computer workstation of claim 1 , wherein said support is mounted on a base having a plurality of cross base members and attaching means for securing said piston means to said base.
 13. The computer workstation of claim 12 , wherein said base is mounted on wheels
 14. The computer workstation of claim 13 , wherein said wheels are locking wheels. 